Horsforth Bereavement Café is a warm welcoming space which meets every 3rd Friday of the month at 1.30 -3pm at Cragg Hill Baptist Church on Cragg Avenue.
The Bereavement Cafe is a wonderful way to support people who are grieving by providing a safe, informal space for people to share experiences and talk openly about their loss, or just sit quiet and listen to others, helping them to feel less isolated.
It is run by volunteers including facilitators who have been trained in bereavement care. There is respect for all beliefs and experiences, no pressure to share, listening is enough.
(Please note that this is not the same as therapy or crisis support, but other helpful websites and organisations are listed at the bottom of this page).
Everyone is welcome!
See what one attendee had to say about their experience:
For anyone who has ever felt the crushing pain of the anxiety of bereavement and the desperate agony of loss, help is available in Horsforth.
Whether you are new to the grieving pains of separation, or a veteran fighting a long-term battle against the dragging agony of a slow solo campaign, a warm welcome awaits you.
The café is staffed by warm, knowledgeable people who know all too well what you are feeling, and it has an accepting welcoming atmosphere (with cake) where people can speak their pain and be accepted by all.
Members opt to listen to others and speak when and if they are ready. There’s no pressure or expectation for members to do anything at all. For myself, I always feel better coming out than I did going in.
Lynn Cowling is a retired Palliative Care nurse who lives in Horsforth; she has a heart for those experiencing grief and loss, and had the idea to set up a Bereavement Cafe in Horsforth.
‘Through my job in palliative care I became aware of just how intense and all encompassing grief can be. I have also had my own bereavements and realised first hand how no part of your life remains untouched.
I would have loved to have had someone to talk to at this time, who was not a family member, as they were suffering too. Not a friend, as they had been lovely but I did not want to pull them down, or test our friendship.
So with the help of Horsforth Chaplaincy Project and some other wonderful people, we started the Bereavement cafe in Horsforth. I am delighted to see people coming along to the cafe, and it is fantastic to see how they also become a support for each other as they share around the table. If it would be helpful to you, feel free to come along.’
Bereavement Support Links and Organisations:
Cruse Bereavement Support
Cruse offers a national helpline and also online group sessions in Understanding your Bereavement, as well as helpful articles on it’s website.
Call them for free on 0808 808 1677 – opening times below:
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday – 9.30am – 5pm
- Tuesday – 1pm – 8pm
- Saturday & Sunday – closed
Sue Ryder
Free-to-access, expert advice and support to help you or someone who is grieving – including helpful articles, an online community, and Grief Guide with tools to help with your feelings.
National Bereavement Service
The National Bereavement Service (NBS) helps you navigate the practical and legal tasks after a death. From registering a death, to probate support, making funeral arrangements, and managing estates. Call, email, or chat online with a trained adviser.
Call them free on 0800 0246 121 – times below:
- Monday to Friday 9am – 6pm
- Saturday 10am – 2pm
AtaLoss.org
A UK wide bereavement signposting and information website, a hub where you can find information and links to organisations who deal with many different aspects of loss, all in one place.